like literally they suspended him ostensibly for failing to control his organization and allowing it to happen. They didn't have any indication that Sean Payton was in any way responsible for the execution of bounties for injuries, but because they made a whole dog and pony show they needed to string someone up at the end otherwise they'd look dumb.

Because the truth is the players wanna hit. What coach in the world would coach his players against hitting? Yet Payton sat out a year over it.

But anyway, yeah, it's idiotic to speculate about any of it (your "the equipment manager is so far below the coach" quip as well).